Swinging cradle.



J. E. BURGE. sw'memcr CRADLE.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 14, 1911.

Patented June 4, 1912.

JAMES E. BURGE, 0F LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

SVIINGING CRADLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 14, 1911.

Patented June at, 1912.

Serial No. 654,592.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. Bunnie, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swinging Cradles,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in swinging cradlesand has for its object to provide a device of this character with anelastic suspension between the body thereof and its supporting means,whereby the cradle may be swung with respect to said supporting means ormoved vertically with respect thereto.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a supportingframe, within which the cradle is suspended by means of divergent coilsprings.

A further object of the invention resides in providing the uprights ofthe supporting frame in sections, hinged one to the other, and a stillfurther object resides in providing means for retaining one of thesections of said uprights in any adjusted position with respect to theother.

A still further object resides in providing a device which is simple anddurable in construction, thereby cheaply manufactured, and one which isvery eflicient and useful in operation.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novelfeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in thespecification and claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, Figure1 is a perspective view of the device set up for operation. Fig. 2 is avertical section'through one of the uprights. Fig. 3 is a transversesection therethrough, as seen on line 33, Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention, I shall refer to thedrawings in whichsimilar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views and in which 1 indicates a cradle or crib of the usualor any preferred type suspended between a supporting frame or standard 2which comprises a pair of vertical uprights 3, held in spaced alinementby means of the longitudi-- nal bar 4, said uprights being mounted inthe transverse bars 5 which are provided with the casters 6, whereby thesame may be readily moved from place to place. The supporting frame 2may be of any desired size, and the cradle 1 is suspended thereinbetween the uprights 3 by means of pairs of divergent coil springs 7 and8, said springs having one of their ends engaged with the corners of thecradle, while the opposite ends thereof are engaged with the eyes 9 ofbolts 10 carried by said uprights. From this structure, it will be seenthat the cradle 1 may be readily rocked or swung be tween the uprights 3and will also yield to the tension of said springs as a weight is placedin said cradle. As stated, the ends of said springs opposite thosesecured to the cradle are engaged with the eyes of bolt-s 10 carried bythe uprights, and I have provided means for the vertical adjustment ofsaid bolts on the uprights, whereby the cradle may be raised or loweredto conveniently dispose the same for the nurse or other person attendingthe cradle. To this end, the inner face of each of the uprights 3 isprovided with a slot 11, within which is mounted to fit snugly thereinand flush with the inner face thereof, a plate 12, said plate beingsecured to the upright by means of the screws or the like 13, and therear face of said plate 12 is provided with a channel or the like 14.This plate'12 is also provided with a longitudinal slot 15 communicatingwith the channel 14;, through which extends the bolt 10', said boltbeing threaded and having its free end engaged with a nut or head 16,which is adapted to fit in the channel 14 of said plate, and alsothreaded on said bolt beyond the outer face of the plate 12, is a wingednut 17. From this construction, it will be seen that the bolts 10 whichhave engaged therewith the springs from the cradle, may be adjustedvertically of the uprights 3, the heads or nuts 16 on said bolts guidingthe same in their respective channels, and when it is desired to retainsaid bolts in any adjusted position, the winged nuts 17 are turned homeuntil the same frictionally engage the outer faces of the plates 12,whereupon the bolts cannot be readily moved. As the weight within thecradle is adapted to be a light one, the binding of the heads 16 and thenuts 17 against the faces of the plates 12, will be'suiiicient to retainthe bolts and correspondingly the cradle in any adjusted position.

Through constant use in the swinging and the rocking of the cradle, thepairs of springs 7 and 8 are adapted to become worn, and in order tocompensate for this wear, I have provided means to take up the expansionin the springs, and to this extent, the uprights 3 are formed insections hinged one to the other, as shown at 18. These hinges 18 may beof any desired form, whatsoever, and are provided on the outer faces ofthe sections of the uprights 3 so that said uprights will be adapted tofold outwardly and the bolt 19 forming a pivot for the sections of eachhinge, has one end thereof threaded and engaged by a winged nut 20.Thus, it will be seen that the upper sections of the uprights 8 may bedisposed from the vertical plane to any degree, whatsoever, and held intheir adjusted position by turning the winged nut 20 until the samefrictionally binds against the sections of the hinge, whereby anyexpansion of the springs, due to the wear thereof may be compensatedfor. It will be seen, moreover, that the upper sections of both of theuprights 3 may be disposed to a substantially horizontal position, andthe device will then form a substantial hammock or the like.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided an improvedcradle or crib suspended from its supporting frame by means of coilsprings, whereby the same may be swung or rocked and will also readilyyield to the light weight placed therein, it being appreciated that thevertical move- 1 ment of the cradle, due to the action of the springs,will aid in placing the infant to sleep. It will further be seen that Ihave provided means for the vertical adjustment of the securing meansfor the springs on the supporting frame, whereby the cradle carried bythe springs, may be correspondingly adjusted to the convenience of thenurse or the like. Furthermore, it will be seen that I have providedmeans whereby the tension of the springs 7 and 8 may be increased aftersaid springs have lost part of their tension through wear in the usethereof, and in this connection, it must be stated that this means fortaking up the wear in the springs, being the formation of the uprightsand sections, will also permit of the device being folded into compactform, for storing or shipping. It will still further be seen that thedevice is extremely simple and durable in construction, whereby the samemay be readily and cheaply manufactured, and one which is very efficientand useful in operation. l

While the elements herein shown and described are well adapted to servethe func-' tions set forth, it is obvious that various minor changes maybe made in the proportion, form and construction of the device,

without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as definedin the claim.

lVhat I claim is In a cradle of the class described, the combinationwith a body and a supporting frame therefor, comprising a pair of spacedapart uprights, said uprights being formed in sections hinged one to theother, and means to retain one of the sections of said uprights in anyadjusted position with respect to the other; of suspension springssecured to the ends of said body and the adjustable sections of therespective uprights.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiiX my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

JAMES E. BURGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

